PLANS for a giant wind turbine farm off the Thanet coast have come a step closer after the Government confirmed it can be plugged into the National Grid.

The consortium developing the 1,000 megawatt London Array, a 341-turbine project that would generate enough power to supply every home in Kent and East Sussex, welcomed the decision.

Andrew Murfin, project director, said: "This is great news and is another significant step towards the development of this flagship project for the UK."

The Government has given the go-ahead to electricity transmission works associated with the project.

This will plug the system into the National Grid at Graveney, near Faversham, where a sub-station is to be built.

Locating the sub-station at the rural site sparked a wave of protest, and Swale council refused permission. But an inspector overruled the council after a public inquiry.

The project would be built in phases and when complete, would generate enough electricity to contribute around 10 per cent to the Government’s target that 1a tenth of UK electricity should come from renewable sources by 2010.

London Array is backed by E.On, Shell WindEnergy, DONG Energy and Farm Energy, the business that came up with the idea.